2 Timothy 1
August 23, 2022
“So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” (v8)
Three times in this chapter, Paul writes about “not being ashamed” (v8, 12, 16). Paul speaks autobiographically of not being ashamed of the gospel in v12. And then he commends Onesiphorus for not being ashamed in v16. But both of these are for the purpose of illustrating the kind of unashamed gospel-boldness that Paul wants to see in Timothy, to whom he is writing this letter. Timothy has slipped into a spirit of timidity in his role as a pastor, and so Paul encourages him to be bold with reminders of the gospel’s power to save, strengthen and empower us to suffer well.
Father, I praise You for the gospel’s power - not only to save me from sin, but to strengthen me to speak boldly and even suffer joyfully, if need be. Thank You for all the ways You are teaching me to depend on You and the gospel in my role as a pastor. Even after 25+ years in pastoral ministry, I’m still learning lessons about relying on You - not just for salvation, but sanctification and satisfaction. Like you taught Pastor Timothy, teach me, too, Lord.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
